WIREDGOV

A new energy efficiency scheme to help the fuel poor has been launched.

The Energy Assistance Package, backed by over £60 million a year from the Scottish Government, has been designed to better target pensioners and low income families.

For the first time, families with children aged under five, or children with a disability aged below 16, are eligible for significant assistance where they are in receipt of benefits.

As well as providing central heating and insulation, incomes will be boosted with free benefit and tax credit checks. Tariff checks will also ensure people are paying the correct amounts on their bill.

Energy companies, through Carbon Emissions Reduction Target programmes, will partly deliver the package, levering in additional resources for investment each year in Scotland.

In Glasgow to launch the Energy Assistance Package, Ms Sturgeon said that the scheme will lead the UK in the drive to help the fuel poor:

"There is no doubt that previous fuel poverty schemes did not properly target fuel poverty.

"The new Energy Assistance Package, the key recommendation of the expert Fuel Poverty Forum, rights those wrongs and has attracted unanimous support from consumer, pensioner and child poverty groups.

"It leads the way in the UK and will reach out to assist more people in Scotland than ever before. Not just the elderly, but also those receiving certain benefits including households with children under five or a disabled child under the age of 16.

"And it is underpinned by record funding of over 60 million pounds a year, which is 30 per cent more than the original fuel poverty budget.

"This Government also expects the energy companies, through their carbon reductions obligations, to unlock millions more to help Scotland's vulnerable low income families and pensioners."

Rev Graham Blount, Chair, Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum said:

"What we believe is needed to tackle fuel poverty is an approach that engages with the people most affected and addresses their needs.

"That is why the Fuel Poverty Forum welcomes the Scottish Government's acceptance of the Energy Assistance Package we proposed, and looks forward to seeing Government, energy companies and agencies working together to deliver it effectively."

John Dickie from the Scottish Children's Fuel Poverty Coalition, said:

"This Energy Assistance Package is very welcome and should benefit some of our most vulnerable children.

"It will ensure many more families get the substantial energy efficiency improvements needed to reduce the devastating impact of energy bills on family budgets."

David Manion, Chief Executive, Age Concern Scotland together with Liz Duncan, Director, Help the Aged said:

"The new Energy Assistance Package targets fuel poverty more closely than the Central Heating Programme.

"It should ensure that more fuel poor older households receive a greater level of help than at present, thus helping to make older peoples' homes warmer and more comfortable in winter."

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon announced on November 19, 2008 that she would implement the key recommendations of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.

From April 2009 the Energy Assistance Package will replace the Central Heating and Warm Deal programmes. A network of Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centres throughout Scotland will help deliver the scheme, which acts as a one-stop shop for assistance with reducing fuel poverty.

The Pension Service, Citizens Advice Direct, the large 6 energy companies, the Energy Retail Association and Scottish Gas, acting as the managing agent for Stage 4, will all help deliver different elements of the Package.

Anyone struggling with their fuel bills is encouraged, from April 6, to call the ESSAC to see if they can benefit from elements of the scheme.

The more enhanced energy efficiency measures under the Package will be targeted at the following groups in private sector homes:

All pensioner households who have never had central heating installed.

Pensioners in energy inefficient homes who are in receipt of a qualifying benefit or are aged 75 or over

Families in energy inefficient homes who are in receipt of a qualifying benefit and with a pregnant woman, child under five or a disabled child under 16

Qualifying benefits are those related to either low income or disability.

These include income support, maximum child tax credit and the guarantee element of pension credit, disability living allowance and attendance allowance.

Related Information

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/FP/eap

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/News-Extras/energy-assistance-quotes/